Lovancia Pease Lyman Papers, 1838-1933, n.d.
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Lovancia Pease was born on December 23, 1821 in Madison, Ohio, the oldest daughter of the six children of George Pease and Lucinda Campbell Pease--pioneer farmers, educated, "staunch and god-fearing." In 1839 she traveled for nearly two days, probably by coach, from Madison to Oberlin, Ohio to enter the Preparatory Department at Oberlin College. Letters show that she studied arithmetic, composition, and singing and became known for her fine singing voice. Between terms of study, she taught local children to help defray her expenses. During her years in the Preparatory Department, she changed the spelling of her name from Lovantia to Lovancia.
Leaving Oberlin in 1841, she taught for nearly ten years in the schools in Madison, Unionville, and Painseville, Ohio until her marriage on September 18, 1850 to Henry Martyn Lyman, a former schoolmate from her student days in the Madison school. She then moved to Downer's Grove, Illinois where her husband's family, originally from New England, were farming as homesteaders. In time, her home, where she lived for over 61 years, became known as "The Lyman Homestead." Apparently, she had two children: a daughter about whom there is no information and a son, Walter C. Lyman, who pre-deceased her.
At Oberlin, Lovancia Pease became interested in the plight of the Negro and the role of women in American society. Her daughter-in-law, Jessie Woodward Lyman, wrote that Mrs. Lyman "bore her lot in life though not agreeing with the popular and accepted idea of male supremacy.” Around 1870, Lovancia Pease Lyman wrote and published a small monograph, The Lost Image: Found in which she examines the role of women in its Biblical context. She concludes that men and women must work together for the equality of all humanity. In 1899, she added a preface to the piece, reaffirming her conviction that women's suffrage would come.
Lovancia Pease Lyman died at Downer's Grove on March 25, 1912.
Sources Consulted
Lyman, Jessie Woodward. "Lovantia Pease Lyman." [A sketch of the life of her mother-in-law.]
Lyman, Lovantia. Pease. The Lost Image: Found.
Oberlin College Institutes. Commencement Program, 1839.
Oberlin College postcard records of address changes.
"An Old Resident Gone." Downer's Grove Reporter. April 5, 1912.
Reminiscent. [A newspaper clipping with no date written by a friend after Lovancia Pease Lyman died. Probably from a Downer's Grove or Naperville newspaper.]
Author: Elizabeth Brinkman Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative Information
The group consists of 12 letters from Lovancia Pease (1821-1912, enrolled 1839-1841) and classmates Rhodelia Cole and Fanny Hovey at Oberlin, 1839-1841; copies of five letters from her mother, Lucinda Pease, 1839-40; notes on Alice Welch Cowles' lectures, 1839; a printed essay, c. 1868, focused on the "woman question" and titled "Lost Image Found," by Lovancia P. Lyman; a sketch of her life; photographs; genealogical information; song books; and other related items.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Biographical, 1839, 1899, 1912, 1933 (1 folder)
This series consists of biographical information for Lovancia Pease, including a sketch, matriculation slip for the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, 1839, and her obituary, April 5, 1912. A copy of "The Lost Image Found" and a statement concerning her authorship of this writing is included. Also contained in this series is biographical information concerning Peter Pinder Pease.
Series 2. Correspondence, 1839-1841, 1933 (1 folder)
The correspondence series includes letters received and written by Lovancia Pease Lyman while a student at the Oberlin Collegiate Institute. Correspondents included Mrs. Lucinda Pease (mother), students (i.e., Rhodelia Cole, Fanny Hovey), and a letter from C. Cole to Mrs. Lucinda Pease. The letters describe Lovancia Pease's student days at Oberlin, including her coursework, singing, and her work with local children. Two letters, dated 1933, describe the transfer of Lovancia Pease Lyman's paper to Oberlin College. The series is contained in one folder. The contents of the folder are cited in the inventory. Letters are original unless otherwise noted on the inventory.
Series 3. Materials Relating to Student Days at the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, 1838-39, n.d. (2 folders)
Consists of notes for lecture, hymns, songbooks, and commencement programs. The inventory contains the contents listing for both folders.
INVENTORY
Box 1
Series 1. Biographical, 1839, 1899, 1912, 1933 (contents listed)
Detailed biographical sketch of Lovancia
Pease, 5 pp.
Genealogical and historical record of Peter
Pinder Pease, 2 pp.
Matriculation Slip of Lovancia Pease, 1839
Lovancia Pease Lyman Obituary that appeared
in The Downers Grove Reporter,
April 5, 1912, 1 pp.
Statement of Lovancia Pease Lyman regarding
her authorship of The Lost Image:
Found, 1899, 1933, 1 pp.
The Lost Image Found, 7 pp.
Series 2. Correspondence, 1839-41, 1933 (contents listed)
Letters To Lovancia Pease
From Lucinda Pease (Mother)
May 6, 1839, 1 pp. (transcription)
June 5, 1839, 1 pp. (transcription)
July 2, 1839, 1 pp. (transcription)
July 16, 1839, 1 pp. (transcription)
June 7, 1840, 1 pp. (transcription)
From C.H. Bartlett, E. Hovey, Harriet
Wednesday 23, 1840, 1 pp.
From Alvan R. Brown (student) with a
note from M.J. Hovey
September 22, 1840, 1 pp.
From Rhodelia Cole (student) and
Fanny Hovey (student)
October 5, 1840, 1 pp.
From Rhodelia Cole
December 22, 1840, 1 pp.
From Fanny Hovey
October 5, 1840, 1 pp.
October 29, 1840, 1 pp.
February 15, 1840, 1 pp.
April 17, 1841, 1 pp.
June 3 (probably 1840 or
1841), 1 pp.
August 8, 1841, 1 pp.
Letters From Lovancia Pease
To Mrs. Lucinda Pease (mother)
July, 1840, 1 pp.
Miscellaneous
From C. Cole to Mrs. Lucinda Pease,
April 17, 1841, 1 pp.
List of items in package sent to Oberlin
College by Mrs. Walter Lyman,
April 8, 1933
Letter to Mr. Grover from Jessie
Woodford Lyman, April 6,
1933, 2 pp.
Series 3. Materials Relating to Student Days at the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, 1838-39, n.d.
Folder 1 (contents listed)
Notes on Mrs. Cowles lectures in handwriting
of Lovancia Pease while a student at
Oberlin, probably 1839, 1 pp.
Handwritten Copies of 2 Missionary Hymns, 2 pp.
Commencement Programs, 1839, 2 pp.
Folder 2 (contents listed)
The Union Singing Book, n.d.
The Odeon Song Book, 1838